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  To make matters worse, the stupid Valkyrie woman wouldn't have sex with him again to restore his fire, and he couldn't link to his brothers. In truth, Quin wasn't sure when he had ever felt more panic in his life.

  He stalked aimlessly away from her, cursing and grumbling about how horrible Earth was when he stepped on a patch of rock that was unstable. One moment, he was standing there, and the next, he was sliding down the mountainside on his ass.

  "Fucking hell, I hate Earth!" Quin roared as he shoved his feet out in front of him to try to stop the freefall. Once stopped at the bottom of what seemed to be a ravine of some kind, he stood and felt burns on his skin from where the rocks and dirt had scraped into his back.

  Gemma scrambled down the sharp incline. "Quin! Are you all right?"

  "Fucking fantastic! Never had such an amazing time!"

  Gemma frowned. "If the sarcasm wasn't dripping off of your words, I might believe you. But then there is also the fact that you are bleeding."

  She moved forward and touched the raw places on his back.

  He winced and moved back. "Stop!"

  Gemma's lips compressed into a line. "You need to clean these out so they don't get infected."

  "Dragons don't get infection," Quin said loftily.

  Gemma laughed. "Don't be an ass. There is a waterfall not far from here. Come on; we need to clean this."

  She started to walk in that direction and Quin grudgingly followed. Every move made his body hurt and he hated to think that she might be right. As they approached the large pool of water, he noticed that there was indeed a waterfall that could serve as a shower of sorts and he began to march over to it. Once under the intense spray, it hurt like hell but, in another way, felt good getting the rocks and tiny bits of dirt out of his skin.

  He rubbed his hair and body, wishing he had soap, when he turned and caught the woman watching him with wide eyes. It would seem that she wasn't as immune to him as she would have him to believe. He had clothing stashed away that they had come upon and he had changed into.

  With deliberateness, he unbuttoned the breeches and pushed them down his thick thighs.

  "What?" Her voice was thick. "What do you think you are doing?"

  Quin looked at her innocently and replied, "Getting the dirt and rocks that went into my pants."

  "Oh." She sounded like a bird or an owl and looked so damn cute that Quin was almost glad he'd had the first layer of skin removed in such a harsh manner.

  He wasn't wearing small clothes. So, his thickening cock stood proudly as he continued to shower as if she wasn't even there. His hand wrapped around his length and he gave himself a hard pull.

  Gemma's eyes nearly bulged. Sure, she knew that men indulged in such things but never had she seen a man behave so wantonly. This man—no, this dragon king—did whatever he pleased. He ran his hand over his cock, allowing the movement to squeeze the head before crashing down and going again and again. His jaw was tight, and she wondered what he was thinking about behind those closed eyes.

  Gemma longed to touch herself. But surely, she couldn't do such a thing? Not here?

  The dragon king's eyes were closed, and even if they weren't, did it matter? What did she owe him? In an act of defiance, she slipped a hand down her tunic that reached mid-thigh and started to slide it up. When the air danced across her pussy, she knew that she was playing with fire and would likely get burned.

  But the sight of the massive cock being stroked again and again right before her eyes was more than she could take. Her finger brushed her curls and her body shuddered, legs parting further so that she could feel the slick heat between her thighs. She stroked the creamy wetness that was already present and wondered if she had lost her ever-loving mind.

  A bead of pearled wetness appeared on the tip of his cock and she longed to lap it up. Her throat constricted, and in that very moment, his eyes flashed open, taking in Gemma with her hand between her legs as she stroked her pussy watching him take his pleasure with his own cock.

  Quin didn't speak, but his eyes flamed and he increased the pressure. His balls tightened, and his fist was almost painful on his dick.

  Gemma moved her fingers inside of her pussy, ramming two fingers deep inside and crying out before bringing them back out to circle her clit. She was so close, so very close, but for some reason, she didn't want to come. This moment, as crazy as it was, seemed oddly intimate, and she wanted to wait and see what he would do.

  Quin's back arched, and he began to come, his cock spurting an arc of liquid, and then Gemma felt her body's response as she rubbed furiously on her clit and cried out as she began to shake, colors and light appearing before her eyes.

  When everything settled, she sank to the ground, feeling drained.

  She heard a voice near her ear, "Was that better, then?"

  Gemma popped her head up. "What?"

  "You won't have sex with me, but you will watch?"

  Her face flamed. "No, that wasn't what I meant."

  "I like to watch; there is nothing wrong with that."

  Gemma felt heat in her stomach. "I don't know what you are talking about."

  Quin slid his hands under her arms to lift her. "I like to watch people fucking. I like people watching me fuck. Why are you acting so strangely?"

  Gemma sputtered with disbelief, "Are you insane? Some kind of sex addict or something?"

  Quin frowned. "I don't understand."

  Gemma bit out a laugh as she said, "Me, either."

  "Maybe we should start again," Quin said quietly. "How much do you know about dragons?"

  Gemma sighed, "Not very much."

  Chapter 4

  "I have the gift of sight." Quin's deep voice had Gemma turning to look at him.

  He was so much larger than she was. His body was sculpted, every inch of his rock-hard physique made to fight and destroy. He carried himself with such an air of superiority. Granted, he was a god, Gemma tried to remind herself. But it was as if he expected even the trees to bow and the wind to navigate to his needs.

  "Do you wish me to show you?" he asked, lifting his hand in front of her forehead but not touching her.

  Gemma nodded. "Yes."

  His strong fingers touched the soft skin of her face, and suddenly, she wasn't on a mountainside on Earth. She was in what could only be considered the Dragon Realm. The colors were more vibrant there, the mountains larger, the caverns deeper, the oceans bluer.

  Gemma was hurtling through the sky, when, suddenly, they came to a great body of water, and instead of flying over it, they crashed right into the depths and sank below. She gasped, trying to catch her breath before remembering that she was only seeing this through Quin's gift.

  He showed her much of the depths of the sea, explaining that he was the god of the waters and all sea creatures were under his care. Then they were rising up again and flying out of the water toward a large cave. They flew directly inside, where there were torches that lined the walls, making it obvious that this was a dragon's lair.

  The size alone was astounding, something that Gemma could hardly even fathom. All of Valhalla could have fit inside just a fourth of the caverns she had seen. There were waterfalls below the ground and great rooms where hundreds of dragons could meet together.

  As the pictures changed, they were in another lair, this one with blue as the predominant color. Gemma blushed a fiery red when she realized what Quin was showing her. There, in the center of the room, completely naked, was the demi-god she had served, Zoe. Her body had been primped and polished.

  Next to her, stood… Gemma froze, and anger began to spiral within her as she watched Quin move his body, eager and ready to fuck the curvy and beautiful Zoe. Not wishing to see any more, Gemma wrenched herself out of his hold. Her hands felt hot and the contents of her stomach threatened to come back up.

  "Why would you show me such vile things?" she spat.

  Quin frowned. "My brother and his mate are not vile."

  "You were re
ady to fuck Zoe!" Gemma accused with fire in her eyes.

  Quin had fire growling in his own before he thought about what she'd said, "What? I would never dishonor my brother or his mate in such a way. What are you talking about?"

  "I saw you!" Gemma nearly screamed it.

  Quin's confusion began to fade, and his mouth spread into a grin. "You saw my brother, my identical twin brother."

  "Your… it can't be." Gemma shook her head. "It was you!"

  Quin's smirk deepened. "My gift allows you to see the things that I have seen. I couldn't show you myself, because I couldn't see myself unless I was looking into a mirror, which I most certainly wasn't. It is strange, little warrior, how angry you have become."

  Gemma flushed and tried to shove him away from her. It was about as successful as shoving a mountain.

  "I wasn't angry! I was offended."

  Quin cocked a brow. "My naked body offends you? That is strange; you didn't seem averse to it the other night."

  "That isn't what I meant," Gemma was able to reply through gritted teeth. "I meant that your morals offended me."

  Quin's laugh was loud and boisterous. "You are calling me out on my morals? Because I didn't fuck my brother's mate? I am confused, little warrior, just why am I in trouble with you?"

  Gemma huffed, "You aren't!"

  Quin shrugged. "Good, then we will be able to get along. And you will understand dragons a bit better, no?"

  "No," Gemma grumbled.

  "No?" Quin frowned.

  "I mean, yes." Gemma threw up her hands. "Or, honestly, I don't know what I mean. I see you in those circumstances and you are big and mighty. All of those dragons were bowing down to you and your brothers, all of those sea creatures were subservient. But then we come here, and someone takes you out of the sky with a measly shot. It doesn't make sense."

  Quin growled at her, "I am well aware of what doesn't make sense. And you are at the top of the short list. Look, we need to find my brother, Titus, and Ava, or worst-case scenario, we find Odin, but either way, we need to get them and get the hell out of here."

  "It's not like I wanted to stay or anything," Gemma added with a humph.

  Quin gave her a side-eyed glance,

  "What?" Gemma crossed her arms in front of her reflexively.

  "I didn't say anything." Quin smiled that annoying, innocent smile.

  "You were thinking something," Gemma countered. "You are thinking something right now. If it's a plan, I deserve to know because we are partners on this."

  Quin laughed so hard that he had to stop and put his hands on his knees. "Part… Part… Partners? No, not in a hundred million years, honey bee. You are a minion, and I am a king."

  Gemma's eyes blazed. "What is that? And who can't shift into a dragon? Oh, yeah, that's you, sugar lips, so don't you condescend to me, ass munch. We were not playing that game."

  "Ass munch?" Quin rolled his eyes. "Is that the best you have?"

  "Shit-cycle, fart-knocker, fuck bot, need I go on?"

  Quin tried to put his arm around her shoulder and found himself being thrown onto his broad, muscular back.

  The wind temporarily knocked out of him, he gasped, "How in the hell did you learn that?"

  Gemma grinned. "Some ass-munch taught me."

  And then she walked off eating something. She was at least ten paces away when he realized it was his apple. The woman had stolen his food.

  Oh, this was war, full on, all-out war.

  And fuck, if Quin wasn't having fun.

  Chapter 5

  Not far from where Quin and Gemma were wandering about, stood Odin in a mountain cabin. In the back bedroom, he nicked his finger, performing a blood spell that would create a scrying mirror out of the large mirror over the dresser.

  "It's about time, you worthless son-of-a-bitch."

  Freya's beautiful form had appeared in the mirror, and from the frown on her face, she was feeling a little testy.

  "Regretting our alliance, my love?" Odin asked silkily.

  "I am not your love or your wife any longer. However, no, I don't regret what we have done. Zoe needed to know of her birthright and Ava needs to be reunited with the fey. Have you been in contact with Flora?"

  Odin winced when he remembered the violent shades of color the strange fey woman's hair had been. Apparently, it changed pattern and color at will; it was most disturbing. Many things about the fey had bothered Odin, but then that wasn't unusual, being the selfish man that he was.

  "They do not wish to open negotiations," he said shortly.

  "And did you tell them that we have Tatiana and Oberon's lost daughter?"

  "I am not a fool, Freya," Odin bit out. "You don't go in with your biggest gun. I said that if they weren't interested in the information I had, we would contact the Lycans."

  Freya smiled. "And?"

  "They will see me tomorrow. It seems that something cleared up in their schedule."

  Freya's smile widened, and she leaned in, making her appear bigger in the mirror. "Well done."

  Odin knew he shouldn't feel such a surge of pride at her words, but she was a beautiful woman and he did still care for her as much as someone like himself could care for another individual.

  "There is a wolf living among the fey." Freya showed Odin a picture of a handsome dark-skinned man who was large in stature; he was standing next to a dainty, pale woman with white-blonde hair. "Their names are Clarence and Jesse White. Clarence is Lycan, and Jesse is the daughter of Oberon and Titania. She is also Ava's sister. They have a grown son, Tobias, who chose to live in the Mortal Realm and is quite a bit older now, with grandchildren. Jesse and Clarence live with the fey and do not travel outside of its realm. If they did, he would turn his true age within a matter of minutes. Werewolves age slower than humans, but they do not have immortality like the gods or the dragons."

  "Is there a reason for this little family reunion?" Odin yawned.

  Freya's mouth tightened. "Yes, the woman you need to impress also married one of the Lycan males. Flora married a wolf named Jason, and they had seven daughters. She only just chose to return to the fey court when her husband passed away. Think, Odin! The man she loved and lived with for almost sixty years just died. Maybe you could turn on some of that charm you boast of having?"

  Odin shook his head. "It's no good, she's a Truth Teller; she won't lie and can tell when you are telling one. That ship has already sailed, my dear."

  Freya blew out a frustrated sigh. "Well, see if you can find out more from Clarence White. He is the only wolf I am aware of, still living, who attended the Lycan Mating Games."

  "And you are still insistent that the school be reopened?" Odin's tone made it clear that he didn't like the idea at all.

  "If we are to bring the fey back to their true realm, we will need to create an army unlike one that has ever been known before. We are the gods of war. I know what I am doing. If we get the dragons to breed with the wolves, we will create something unstoppable. The Vernomi are soulless, bloodthirsty creatures that feed on the lives of others. It is going to take a miracle to destroy these bottom feeders. And so, that is what we will provide. After all, we are gods, and what better thing to do than create a few miracles?"

  Odin's eyes blazed with lust and desire. "Your passion is invigorating."

  Freya's brow rose. "It's not happening, Odin. Just do your part."

  Odin cursed under his breath, "What about your part? Where is the last fey princess? I haven't seen her or her dragon king since I came to this wretched place."

  Freya growled softly, "It's being taken care of."

  Odin laughed, the sound similar to nails on a chalkboard.

  "If you are referring to the dragon king, I sent my valkyrie out to get him two days past. I saw the signal when she shot him out of the sky. I would imagine they will be arriving here at any moment."

  "Damn it, Odin! Why did you interfere?" Freya yelled into the glass reflection, wishing he were close enough that she could wr
ap her hands around his neck and squeeze.

  "I had to interfere because he was flying around the Rocky Mountains and the entrance to the fey is in Los Angeles; they are not that close in distance. I didn't know what he was doing. You should thank me. By the time this god figured out his shit, the Vernomi very well could have depleted everything in the fey and moved onto another realm."

  Freya rubbed her temples as if warding off a pounding headache. "Fine! Just do whatever you need to get Ava reunited with her family. If we can get the fey on board, I know the dragons will follow. They have a blood oath that is thick and impenetrable."

  "How are you going to convince the Lycans?"

  Freya grinned and yanked another individual into sight. Loki sighed, "Hullo, Odin."

  "Loki!" Odin laughed. "And you are going to talk some sense into your son? Is that how this all works?"

  Loki shrugged. "Seemed about as good an idea as any other I have tried."

  "Does Zoe or her dragon suspect anything?" Odin asked curiously.

  Freya made a face, shaking her head, "Never. They are still certain that you are behind everything. I must say you played your part magnificently."

  Odin might have blushed a few millennia ago, but for now, he settled for a grin.

  "Seems our daughter is a bit clueless." Odin chuckled.

  Another voice came from behind where Freya and Loki were standing. "Your daughter is learning all sorts of new things."

  The mirror flashed and then returned to its natural state. Odin was worried for the briefest second about Freya but then dismissed it. She was the goddess of war and Zoe's mother; surely, she would understand the dire needs of this situation?

  She had to, because the fate of all the realms was at stake. The Vernomi would continue to feed and destroy until there was nothing left. They had to be taken out; it was the only way.